Well,  I am still pondering this "Holy"  "Holiness" thing in my heart.  I laid awake thinking and praying about it last night, only to wake up early this morning with this issue weighing heavily upon me.  Sheesh!  When something hits me hard like this I ponder and dissect it to its basal form!  I haven't even scratched the surface of this concept.....sigh....

    I thought I would try to take my mind of the Biblical concept of "Holy" and just read a passage of scripture that I go over quite frequently-just to keep focus on my role as a woman, wife, mother and homemaker.  Proverbs 31:10-31.  Easy, already committed to memory--just a little boost in print for me this morning--right?  Hmm....

   I decided to do something I have not done in a long while--cross reference!  I was reading and praying through some areas that the Holy Spirit was revealing I fall short in--then I got to verse 16.  The cross reference was Romans 12:11.  I read it-pondered it-prayed on it, everything was going okay until my eyes fell on Romans 12:1-2.  These verses just jumped off the page at me screaming, "Read me!  Read me!"

   "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  -And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." 

    I can't seem to get away from this obviously very important Biblical issue, at least in my life.  Sighing once again......

    I thought I would look up holy in my 1828 Webster's Dictionary.  I use this dictionary all the time in my daily life, especially when I am studying the scriptures.  (Thanks to my CHG's for this wonderful birthday gift!  It truly has been a blessing to me!!) 

     Anyway, the definition of holy is:  1.  Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense.  Hence, pure in heart, temper or disposition; free from sin and sinful affections.  Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions.  We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts.  Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.  Be ye holy; for I am holy.  1 Pet. 1

   2.  Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath;  holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.

   3.  Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.

   4.  Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.

   5.  Sacred; as a holy witness.

         Holy of holies; Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit; Holy War

   Well,  I must say--for me--I don't see this too much in my life!  Sighing once again with tears in my eyes.  How this must grieve my Heavenly Father!  All of heaven trembles at His Voice.  All of heaven instantly obeys His command.  All of heaven longs for the Will of God...and yet they know nothing of the position of being willingly and obediently redeemed by Jesus, the Messiah, on the cruel Roman execution stake that we Gentiles flippantly call "the cross". 

   Now, once again, I am thinking in print here.  This is how I work things out in my heart, soul and mind.  I have to either talk it out or write it out.  I am not making any apologies for my words, mind you, I am just trying to digest this freshly revealed word of scripture for my sake and the sake of my family and friends.  I appreciate the comments on my entries that I have received so far--but it is not my intent to sound judgmental or holier than thou---oooo, that would hurt me deeply.  As I said in my last blog--I am not trying to be Super Christian here.  I know I am crawling on thin ice here, but it is a journey I must crawl, walk then continue on for the Glory of God, and God Alone.

    So, with that said, holiness is a concept that I find lacking in my world of American Christianity.  Is there nothing sacred anymore?  You know set apart for the worship and service of God, as in number 2 of Webster's definition of holy.  I am not just talking about holy vessels used in the church, such as communion plates and cups or the lectern, where the man of God proclaims the very Word of God.  I am talking or rather thinking about my life in general.  If I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, boy--that changes everything.  There is an active responsibility here, don't you think?   If Scripture says;    "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."   And  "Be ye holy for I am holy."   Shouldn't we look into this further? 

    Most of the prophets in the Old Testament were called by God to warn God's chosen about their unholiness.  The prophets of old where proclaiming consequences to their sinfulness, and yet these same prophets were pleading with God's chosen to turn from their ways and return to God and His Holy ways.   I think I might make a study on the prophets---that might help me in my "quest" if you will.  Hmm...good idea. 

                                 Ahhh.....my brain is tired!